Microsoft made a variant of C language that is more difficult for writing vulnerable programs

With the quick development of IT sphere more and more new computer programming languages appear nowadays. Some of them have already gained popularity due to their simplicity and comfort of use, but most of the experienced programmers do not betray those primary programming languages that they have already learned up to scratch. One of such “old good friends“ is C programming language created by Microsoft developers in early 1970s, but that is still on the top of its popularity especially due to its new successors. Let us consider why C programming is still in trend and why younger IT generations avoid writing vulnerable programs with the help of this language.

C programming language from Microsoft

C language for programming or just C is considered to be an imperative programming language used for general purposes. Developed originally by Dennis Ritchie it belongs to one of the top used languages for programming. Aimed at development of cross-platform programming it played a significant role in the appearance of numerous modern apps and operating systems.

The key features of C are:

• Presence of facilities to deal with structured programming;
• Allowance of recursion and lexical variable scope;
• A restricted number of keywords;
• Quite complicated syntax with examples of arithmetical operators;
• Possibility to work with several assignments at the same time;
• The availability of a wide list of functions;
• Already existing rather extended library of files;
• Portability and high efficiency of codes;
• Demand for run-time is rather low;
• It is rather easy to learn and use this language etc.

Despite a variety of new languages that appear nowadays for programmers, C still keeps up with them as it is mainly used as an intermediate one due to the comfort of its utilization and portability. Though it may seem that created so many years ago programming language can not be in trend now, Microsoft Corporation does everything to keep their product at the top of its popularity: new versions of C programming beat any records.

C programming and its drawbacks

Why then some programmers complain that it is impossible to use C for a development of specific software? All this happens because C language is not perfect and has low-level capabilities. Besides, it lacks some modern functions and is unsuitable for some modern apps:

1. C language is not familiar with Object Oriented Programming;
2. One of the greatest disadvantages is absence of the mechanism that corrects mistakes;
3. There is no exception handling there;
4. A concept of a namespace, destructor or constructor is absent in this language.
5. C does not guarantee any security of data;
6. Reusability of source code is not supported there;
7. Lack of library functions to handle with modern programming environment;
8. The difficulty with programming nontrivial tasks.
9. Default arguments and generic programming are unknown to C programming.

All these features just confirm the fact that C language is a bit old and requires updates. This is exactly what Microsoft company has taken into account and offered new versions of C language that are more suitable for contemporary programmers.

C language derivatives: C++ and C#

C language has undergone many alterations, and Microsoft company tries to avoid bugs and cons that were characteristic of original C. Consequently, many different versions were created, but only some of them are widely used nowadays. Two most popular ones are C++ and C# languages that have much in common though many differences too.

C++ has appeared due Bjarne Stroustrup, who decided to enhance C language with features of Simula and other languages existing at that time. It has been updated for several times and obtained numerous new functions that C lacked.

C# or C sharp is another more advanced successor of C programming language that is considered more powerful, type-safe, simple and object oriented. It guarantees a rapid development of apps, though possesses an elegant and expressive C development environment.

Both these languages are derived from the original C one, but they have many differences too:

C++ has such features:

• Being a low-level neutral language;
• A compiled code is transformed into an assembly language code;
• A restricted number of class members;
• A smaller number of modifiers;
• More complex syntax;
• The absence of such characteristics as a finally block, each statement; test variable can’t be a string, automatic memory clearance, etc.

C# is characterized by:

• Being a high-level component oriented language;
• A compiled code is transformed into an intermediate language and then executable code;
• All class members additionally include events, delegates, and properties;
• Modifiers are extended with internal and protected internal ones;
• Simpler syntax;
• The presence of such unique functions as a garbage collector, each statement, finally blocks, a possibility of test variable to be a string, concept of delegates, etc.

These are only some of the features that differ both languages. C++ is more similar to the original C and has much in common with it. C sharp is regarded to be a programming language of the new millennium due to its extensive and powerful functionality. But the fact is that both these languages are based on one of the greatest developments of Microsoft – C programming language.